Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger may include a plurality of first core plates and second core plates stacked alternatingly, and a first flow path through which a first fluid may flow and a second flow path through which a second fluid may flow. The first flow path and the second flow path may be disposed between the plurality of first core plates and second core plates and alternatingly formed to be adjacent. A first passage hole may form a first flow-through portion at the first flow path and a second passage hole may form a second flow-through portion at the second flow path. The first flow path may be isolated from the second flow path. The first flow-through portion and the second flow-through portion may include an edge portion having an angle in a second direction perpendicular to flow paths. The core plates may include a boss portion that protrudes.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of first core plates and a plurality of second core plates stacked alternatingly; and   a plurality of first flow paths through which a first fluid flows and a plurality of second flow paths through which a second fluid flows, the plurality of first flow paths and the plurality of second flow paths each defined between a first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and an adjacent second core plate of the plurality of second core plates, the plurality of first flow paths and the plurality of second flow paths disposed in an alternating manner in a stacking direction;   wherein each first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and each second core plate of the plurality of second core plates includes:
 a plurality of passage holes including a first passage hole, a second passage hole, and a third passage hole, the first passage hole, the second passage hole, and the third passage hole disposed adjacent to a first end of the respective core plate, the first end of the respective core plate disposed opposite a second end of the respective core plate in a first direction extending perpendicular to the stacking direction, the first passage hole partially defining a first flow-through portion, the second passage hole partially defining a second flow-through portion; and 
 a boss portion surrounding the third passage hole; 
   wherein the first flow-through portion connects the plurality of first flow paths in the stacking direction and is isolated from the second fluid in the plurality of second flow paths, and the second flow-through portion connects the plurality of second flow paths in the stacking direction and is isolated from the first fluid in the plurality of first flow paths; and   wherein the boss portion includes an edge portion facing toward a center of the respective core plate, the edge portion oriented obliquely to the first direction and to a second direction, which extends perpendicular to the stacking direction and to the first direction, such that a distance from the edge portion to a centerline of the respective core plate increases as the edge portion extends toward the second passage hole.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fin plates disposed in the plurality of first flow paths and the plurality of second flow paths. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein a gap between the edge portion and an associated fin plate of the plurality of fin plates narrows as the edge portion extends away from the second passage hole. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and each second core plate of the plurality of second core plates further includes a second boss portion surrounding the second passage hole, the second boss portion including a second edge portion facing toward the center of the respective core plate, the second edge portion oriented obliquely to the first direction and to the second direction such that a distance from the second edge portion to the centerline of the respective core plate increases as the second edge portion extends toward the first passage hole;   the edge portion contacts the first fluid flowing in an associated first flow path of the plurality of first flow paths; and   the second edge portion contacts the second fluid flowing in an associated second flow path of the plurality of second flow paths.   
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of core plates including a plurality of first core plates and a plurality of second core plates, stacked alternatingly in a stacking direction;   a plurality of oil flow paths and a plurality of coolant flow paths alternatingly formed between the plurality of core plates in the stacking direction;   each of the plurality of core plates including:
 a pair of oil passage holes including a first oil passage hole and a second oil passage hole arranged at opposite sides of the respective core plate in a first direction extending perpendicular to the stacking direction; 
 a pair of coolant passage holes including a first coolant passage hole and a second coolant passage hole, the first coolant passage hole disposed adjacent to the first oil passage hole in a second direction extending perpendicular to the stacking direction and to the first direction, the second coolant passage hole disposed adjacent to the second oil passage hole in the second direction; 
 a first boss portion surrounding the first oil passage hole; and 
 a second boss portion surrounding the first coolant passage hole; 
   wherein:
 the first boss portion includes a first edge portion facing toward a center of the respective core plate, the first edge portion oriented obliquely to the first direction and to the second direction such that a first distance from the first edge portion to a centerline of the respective core plate increases as the first edge portion extends toward the first coolant passage hole; and 
 the second boss portion includes a second edge portion facing toward the center of the respective core plate, the second edge portion oriented obliquely to the first direction and to the second direction such that a second distance from the second edge portion to the centerline of the respective core plate increases as the second edge portion extends toward the first oil passage hole; 
   wherein the plurality of oil flow paths fluidically communicate with one another via the pair of oil passage holes of the plurality of core plates; and   wherein the plurality of coolant flow paths fluidically communicate with one another via the pair of coolant passage holes of the plurality of core plates.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a plurality of first fin plates each disposed in a respective oil flow path of the plurality of oil flow paths; and   a plurality of second fin plates each disposed in a respective coolant flow path of the plurality of coolant flow paths.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of oil flow passages is defined by and between a lower face of a respective first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and an upper face of a respective second core plate of the plurality of second core plates. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of coolant flow passages is defined by and between an upper face of a respective first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and a lower face of a respective second core plate of the plurality of second core plates. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of core plates includes a pair of through holes through which neither the first fluid nor the second fluid passes. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , further comprising a top plate arranged on an uppermost core plate of the plurality of core plates, the top plate including:
 a coolant introduction portion in fluid communication with one of the first coolant passage hole and the second coolant passage hole of the uppermost core plate; and   a coolant discharge portion in fluid communication with the other of the first coolant passage hole and the second coolant passage hole of the uppermost core plate.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , further comprising a bottom plate arranged on a lowermost core plate of the plurality of core plates, the bottom plate including:
 an oil introduction portion in fluid communication with one of the first oil passage hole and the second oil passage hole of the lowermost core plate; and   an oil discharge portion in fluid communication with the other of the first oil passage hole and the second oil passage hole of the lowermost core plate.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the pair of oil passage holes are positioned at outer edges of the respective core plate and are in a symmetrical position on a diagonal line extending across the center of the respective core plate. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of coolant passage holes are positioned at outer edges of the respective core plate and are in a symmetrical position on a second diagonal line extending across the center of the respective core plate. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of coolant passage holes are positioned on the second diagonal line such that the pair of coolant passage holes do not overlap with the pair of oil passage holes. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the boss portion surrounds both the first passage hole and the third passage hole, and does not surround the second passage hole. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 each first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and each second core plate of the plurality of second core plates further includes a main plate portion from which the boss portion projects; and   the boss portion is continuous and completely surrounds the first passage hole and the third passage hole such that no portion of the main plate portion is disposed between the first passage hole and the third passage hole.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 each first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and each second core plate of the plurality of second core plates further includes a standing wall portion projecting obliquely from the main plate portion and extending along an outer perimeter of the main plate portion; and   the boss portion is disposed spaced apart from the standing wall portion.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein each first core plate of the plurality of first core plates and each second core plate of the plurality of second core plates includes a main plate portion from which the boss portion and the second boss portion project in opposite directions. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein the main plate portion is a flat, planar portion oriented perpendicularly to the stacking direction. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein the boss portion and the second boss portion are disposed directly adjacent to one another such that no portion of the main plate portion is disposed between the boss portion and the second boss portion.